Heel trimming machine



Dec. 18, 1934. E. B. CARTER HEEL TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 17, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet l LZZforwqz Dec. 18, 1934. B. CARTER 1,984,917

HEEL TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 17, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 at'zorfleg N mm E Q Mm W MGM" Dec. 18, 1934. E. B. CARTER HEEL TRIMMING MACHINE Filed 0d. 17, .1950

6 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 18, 1934. E. B. CARTER HEEL TRIMMING MAcHiNE Filed Oct. 17, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 18, 1934.v E. B. CART'ER 1,984,917

HEEL TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 17, 1950 e sheets-sheet 5 171126715222 Ma W fi-MM/L M Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES. PATENT "OFFICE" HEEL TRIMMING MACHINE Edward'B. Garter, Lexington, Mass. I Application October 17, 1930, Serial No. 489,370

44 Claims. (01. 16463) My present invention relates to trimming machines and more particularly to machines for trimming fins from molded rubber heels.

In the present practice of manufacturing rubber heels, a biscuit of suitable rubber compound is placed in a mold, and then subjected to heat and pressure. It is customary to have a surplus of the material required for the completed heel, in order to insure filling of the mold, as Well as to eliminate air pocket's or other faults in the completed heel. This excess or surplus material, as a result of the pressure to which the biscuit is subjected, is extruded from the mold along the-top and bottom edges of the heel, forming What is known in 1 the heel industry as fins. Before the heels are inamarketable conditionthese fins must be removed and the removal must be performed in such manner as to not leave any unsightly edges, protuberancesjor other flaws in the completed heel. v

Many machines have been devised forv performing this fin trimming operation, but all these prior machines'have operated upon but one edge of the heel at a time, requiring a double operation ,in order to effect the removal "of the fins from the top'and bottom edgesof the heel. In most oftheseprior machines,1also, the presenting of the heel edges to the cutting elements has been done by hand, thisbeing a dangerous op.- eration, because of the possibility of injury to the operator by reason of the proximity of the hands of the operator to thecutting elements.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a1machine'which will effect a trimming of the fins from the top and bottom edges of a heel simultaneously, thus performing in one operation what has heretofore required two operations.

, Another object of the present invention is the "provision'of a heel trimming machine which will have a maximum factor of safety, eliminating the likelihood of injury which has been present in most prior machines. 1

Commercial rubber heels have a peculiar, con-. tour, in that on the side thereof there is substantially no longitudinally straight line, and substantially notrue arc of a circle. In order to effect a neat trimming of the fins from the heel edges, it is essential that the edges of the heel to be trimmed shall be presented to the cutting elements in a continuously smooth path of move.- ment and under a constant pressure. This I accomplish in my present machine.

In my present machine I provide a pivoted carriag adapted to be engaged by a heel in its passage through the machine, means being provided to effect a feeding of the heel through said machine. Until said carriage is engaged by said heel, the feeding means feeds the heel forwardly, presenting the top and bottom edges, to their '5 respective cutting elements. Said carriage is provided with an arcuate plate adapted to be engaged by the heel breast, and simultaneously with the engagement of said arcuate plate by said heel breast, cam operated spring-pressed gripping elements are brought into engagement with the heel, centering said heel in a fined position in its carriage.

Meanwhile the feeding means is exertinga continuous feeding action upon the heel. The heel, however, is now firmly held in its carriage, and is prevented from further movement through the machine by said carriage. The carriage, however, is pivotally mounted, and the action of the feeding means on the heel will cause said heel to rotate said carriage about its pivot'whereby the heel will be rotated about a desired center.

This'rotation of the carriage about its pivot will continue until the curved portion of the heel has received its trimming operation, whereupon the heel will be released'from its carriage and the gripping elements, and the feeding means will again effect a travel of the heel through the machine, completing the trimming of the side of said heel opposite the side first operated upon. 30 When trimming of the heel is completed, dis-v charging means is provided to eject the heel from the machineyand during such ejection the heel will engage means associated with the heel carriage to automatically return said heel carriage to its initial-position in readiness for the reception of a subsequent heel. 'It will thus be seen that operation of the heel carriage is effected by the'heel itself, as is also the return of said carriage to normal position; r

Means is associated with the machine, as well as with the heelcarriage, to present the proper portionof the heel to be trimmed to the cutting elements, and means is also provided to spread the fins from the heel in order to insure their severance from the heel by the cutting elements.

As the heel curve of these rubber heels rarely has the arc of atrue circle, the heel carriage; is resiliently mounted, in order that the shape of the heel may vary the relation of said carriage to the cutting elements, and thus continuously compensate for any unevenness in heel contours.

In my present machine the cutting elements comprise two. pairs of cutters, each consisting of a top and bottom "cutter, and eachjpair ofcutters being adapted to operate upon one edge of a heel presented thereto; and another feature of my invention resides in the provision of resilient means to retain the top cutting elements against the lower or bottom cutters.

Another object of the invention resides in the particular construction of the heel feeding means, which comprises a pair of knurled rollers, one associated with each of the top cutters. One of these rollers is straight, and is adapted to engage the fiat surface of the heel, adjacent to the edge thereof, the other roller being slightly convexed to engage the concave side of the heel, and thus effect a firm grasp of these feeding rollers on the heel and assuring a positive feeding of the heel through the machine. The engagement of the convex feeding roller with the concave side of the heel will also effect a downward pressure of said heel against the cutters, thus still further insuring proper presentation of the finned edges of the heel to the cooperating cutters.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of means to remove the severed fins from the cutters.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of means to discharge the severed fins from the machine.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means to adjust the bottom cutters horizontally with relation to the top cutters to accommodate varying sizes of heels, as heels of different thicknesses will require different adjustment of the bottom cutters relative to their cooperating top cutters.

Another object of the invention resides in the fact that the entire heel carriage is easily removable and replaceable. 7 Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of manually operable means to adjust said carriage relative to the cutters to accommodate varying sizes of heels, as the centering point will vary with varying sizes of heels. This manual adjustment is in addition to the automatic adjustment heretofore mentioned for compensating for unevennesses in heel contours.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of means to permit automatic adjustment of the top cutters relative to each other to compensate for varying thicknesses of heels, or for varying points of thickness in a single heel.

A still further feature of my present machine is the elimination of the use of oil or water to reduce frictional heat, which has been necessary in many prior machines.

Other objects and features of the invention reside in the particular construction, arrangement and relation of parts of my machine.

While I have illustrated and described the machine of the present application as particularly adaptable to heel trimming, it will be appreciated that said machine may operate, with equal facility, upon other rubber articles, wherein it is desired to remove a fin or fins therefrom.

Ihe above and other features and objects of my invention, combinations of parts, details of construction, and advantages, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out, described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my present invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my novel machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa front elevation, partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. "I is a fragmentary view illustrating the beginning of the cutting operation;

Fig. 8 is a view during the trimming operation;

Fig. 9 is a view as the heel approaches completion of its trimming operation;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the heel carriage;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the manual and automatic adjusting means for the heel carriage;

Fig. 13 is a plan sectional view illustrating the means to feed the severed fins from the cutting knives, and a modified means of removing the severed fins from the bottom cutter;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the driving gears.

Referring now to the drawings for a particular description of the invention, its construction, assembly and operation, 15 designates a base or supporting plate on which is mounted a motor 16 driving, through shaft 1?, coupling 18, shaft 19 and speed reducing unit 20, a shaft 21. Fixed on said shaft 21 is a beveled gear 22 meshing with a beveled gear 23 fixed to a short shaft 24 which is connected to a vertical driving shaft 25 through the medium of a universal joint 26. The gear 23 and shaft 24 are supported in a bracket 27 secured to the standard 28 by bolts 29.

The shaft 25 extends vertically and has bearings in the journal portions 71 of a plate or wall 72, said plate or wall 72 being pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft 73, which shaft is supported in the vertical wall '74 rising from the base 15, the two walls '72 and 74 having alternating cutout portions to permit pivoting of the plate 72 on the shaft 73. The plate '72 is normally held in vertical position by means of bolts '75 threaded into the standards 28 and '76, knurled handles 77 being provided on each of the bolts 75. The shaft 25 carries on its upper end a large driving gear 30. The gear 30 in turn meshes with a gear 31 fixed on a vertical shaft 32, and also fixed on the shaft 32, but below the gear 31, is a gear 33, which is in mesh with the gear 34 fixed on the vertical shaft 35. The gear 33 in turn meshes with a gear 36 pinned to a vertical shaft 37, said shaft 37 being supported at its upper end in an arm 38 as is also the shaft 32. The gear 33 also meshes with an idler gear 39 pinned to a short vertical shaft 40 which is also secured in the arm 38, and pinned to the lower end of the shaft 40 is a gear 41 meshing with a gear 42 on a shaft 43. The gear 34 meshes with a gear 44 on a shaft 45, the upper end of the shaft 45 being supported in an arm 46. The gear 34 in turn meshes with an idler gear 4'7 on a shaft 48, a gear 49 being pinned to the shaft 48 below the arm 46, and the gear 49 in turn meshes with and rotates a gear 50, fixed to the shaft 51.

The shaft 21 extends forwardly through a boss 52 and has splined thereto and slidably mounted thereon a beveled gear 53 which meshes with a beveled gear 54 on a shaft 55, said shaft being journaled in a bracket 56 fixed to a plate 57 by bolts 58.

The lower end of the shaft 55 has a bearing in a boss 59 on the plate 57, the shaft 55 depending through said plate and having fixed toits lower end a large gear 60, said gear meshing with and driving, a" gear of similar size 61;pinne'd to a shaft 62, which is supported-in a vertical, boss 62a. The shafts 55 and 62 are paralle l,,a's are also theshafts 32-and 35. ,Fixed to the upper end of the shaft 55 is a member 63 having a coni- 1 cal upper surface, and provided with a shoulder 64 to which an annular disc 65 is affixed by bolts 66, a circular cutting or shearing member 67"be+ ing fixed to the annular disc 65. To the upper end of the, shaft 62 is afiixed a member 68 having a conical upper surface and to which an annular disc,.69 carrying a circular shearing or cutting member '70 is afiixed in a manner similar to the disc 65.

The cutting discs 6'7 and 70 are referred to here- .in asthe lower or bottom cutting members, and are rotated by means of the gears 60 and 61 in opposite directions.

To the bottom of the shaft 32 is afilxed a'circular cutter 78, and affixed to the bottom of the shaft 35 is a circular cutter '79, each of the shafts 32 and 35 being providedwith a collar andan anti-friction bearing 81, a coiled spring 82 being positioned between the collar 80 and bearing 81, the bearing 81 facilitating rotation of the spring '82. Thebearings 81 are located under the arms or brackets 38 and 46, and the coiled springs 82, therefore, will effect a constant downward pressure'on the shafts'32 and 35 and hence on the cutters 78 and 79, insuring that said cutters will be maintained in engagement with their respective cooperating bottom cutters 67 and '70. It will thus be appreciated that as the gears 60 and 61 are rotating the bottom cutters 67 and 70, the gears 33 and 34 are simultaneously rotating the top cutters 78'and 79 in the same direction of rotation as their respective bottom cutters 6'7 and '70. Fixed tothe forward portion of the plate 57 is a verticalrod 83 having a lateral-projection 84 extending inwardly toward the machine, and fixed to said lateral projection 84 is a vertical arm 85 carrying an arcuate chute 86 in which are mounted freely rotatable rollers 87. The chute 86 has apair of flaring sides 88 each provided with a recess 89 alined with the'tops of the bottom cutters 67 and 70, and in the recesses 89 is placed suitable oil packing 90 tolubricate the cutting edges of the cutters 67 and '70.- From an inspection of Fig. 2 it will be seen that the chute 86 extends. downwardly and inwardly and covers the cutting edges of the cutters 67 and '70 substantially up to the cutting point, thus eliminating any possibility of an operator having his hands or fingers caught between the cutters 6'7 and 70 as they approach their point of substantial contact.

The platel57 is movable inwardly and outwardly by means of an adjusting bolt 91 threadedinto a depending boss 92 on the under surface of, .the plate 5'7. The plate 5'7will be guided in such forward or backward movement in a track 93 formed in the base 15 and said plate'5'7' is held in fixed relation to-said base 15 by plates 94 having bev eled edges95 engaging the-beveled edges 96 of plates 9'7- secured to the base15 by screws 98, the plates 94 being fixed to the, plate 57 by screws 99.

It will-thusv be seen that operation of the adjusting bolt 91 to move the plate 5'7 forwardly or backwardly will adjust the bottom cuttersfi'? and '70 relative to the top cutters 78 and 79, increasing or decreasing the space between said Cutters 6'? and '70 at the cutting point, to accommodate varying sizes of heels to be operated upon.

,Such movement of the plate 57 will not inter-.

beveled gear-53, which is splined to said shaft but slidable thereon as previously stated. Forward movement of the plate 57, or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, will, therefore, cause the yoke 102 to move the beveled gear 53 along the shaft 21,

maintaining meshing engagement of the gear 53 with the beveled gear 54.

Associated with the cutter '78 and fixed to the shaft 32 for rotation therewith is a knurledfeeding roll 100, and associated with the cutter '79 and fixed to the shaft 35v for rotation therewith is a knurled feeding roll 101. The side of the feeding roll 101 is straight, while the knurledsurface of the feeding roll 100 is concave, as will be clearly apparent from a glance at the drawings. The direction of the knurling on the rollers 100 and 101 is such that this knurling will tend to force the heel downwardly against the tops of the bottom cutters 67 and 70, in additionto the depressing action eifected bythe concave roller 100.

Fixed to the wall '74 by screws 104 is a bracket 105 having a groove 106 therein onits upper surface in which rides a tongue 10'? of a member 108 having a .slot 109 therein. A bolt 110 extends through the slot 109 and is threaded into the bracket 105, loosening of said bolt 110 permitting movement of said member 108 along the bracket 105. Carried by a pin 111 at the upper end of said member 108 is a pair of rollers 112. ,By means of the adjustment just described the rollers 112 are. adjustable relative to; the. cutting point, the height of said rollers 112, however, being always in the same plane. 1

When a heel is to be operated upon, the motor 16 is started, thus rotating the respective top and bottom cooperating cutters. The heel is placed on the chute 86and fed into the machine breast first, as clearly shown in Figs. '7, 8, and 9. Sliding down the rollers 87 on the chute 86, the heel, here designated as 113, will be engaged by the feeding rollers 100 and 101, the straight roller 101 engaging the flat surface of the heel 113 and the concave'roller 100 engagingthe, concave side of the heel, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 10, thus effecting a feeding of the heel toward the, rear of the machine, the heel at this point resting on the tops of the cutters 67 and 70 and being'held thereagainst by the roller 100.

The fins which are to be removed are designated as 114, thereusually being one of these fins at the top and bottom edge of the heel. As the heel approaches the cutting point, means is provided'to force the fins 114 outwardly to better insure their presentation to the cutters at the cutting point. This means may be a blower pipe 115, or other desirable mechanism may be utilized.

As the heel is moved toward the rear of the machine by the rollers 100 and 101, the forward edge of the heel will engage the rolls 112 and will be tilted upwardly, continued feeding of the heel finally bringing said heel into engagement with the heel carriage.

This heel carriage comprises an arcuate plate 116, adapted to be engaged by the breast of the heel 113, said plate 116 being provided with guiding and alining lips 11'? at its top and bottom portions. The plate llfi is fixed to a substantially u-shaped frame'118 having a pair of arms 119, a screw 120 being utilized to affix the plate 116 to said frame 118. A pivot pin 121 is fixed to each arm 119, these pivot pinshaving bear:

ings in blocks 122 fixed to shelves 123 projecting from the wall 72.

While I have illustrated in Fig. 12 a member 124 separable from the shelf 123 to permit removal of the shaft 35, I am designating the shelf 123 and member 124 as a single member, viz., the shelf.

Screws 125 unite the blocks 122 to the shelves, said blocks being provided with slots 126 by means of which the blocks 122 may be adjusted vertically on the screws 125. i

A plunger 127 carries at its lower end a hearing member 128 adapted to bear against the pivot pin 121, this structure being identical on each side of the heel carriage. A spring 129 normally forces the bearing member 128 downwardly on its pivot pin 121, the plunger 127 projecting upwardly through the top of the block 122, and having a handle member 130 on said projecting end. On the block 122 is provided a small shelf 131. Thus, the bearing member 128 may be raised by the handle 130, and on reaching the level of the shelf 131, said bearing member may be turned to rest on said shelf, whereupon the entire heel carriage may be raised out of the blocks 122 and withdrawn from the front of the machine, for removal, repair, or any other reason.

On each block 122, and preferably integral therewith, is a cam 132, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully designated.

Pivotally mounted on each arm 119 is a channel member 133, each of these channel members carrying a plunger 134, said plungers being normally housed in the arms 119 by coiled springs which force the channel members 133 outwardly from the arms 119.

Pivotally mounted on a pin 136 carried in the plate 116 is an L-shaped arm 137, having a yoked end 138 in which a roller 139 is freely rotatable. A coiled spring 140 bears against the end 141 of the arm 137 normally forcing the roller 139 upwardly when said carriage is in normal position, the upward movement of said roller being limited by a stop screw 142 which is adjustable to desired position. Fixed to the rear of the plate 116 is a stop 143 adapted to engage a link 144 when the device is in the position illustrated in Fig. 7 to limit movement of the carriage in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in said figure. The link 144 is at one end fixed to the frame 118 by a screw 145, and the other end of the link 144 is pivotally connected at 146 to the arm 147 of a lever 148 which is slightly arcuate in shape, and which lever is pivoted at 149 to the web 150 of the plate 72.

Each of the blocks 122 is provided with a guiding lip 151, the two lips 151 forming a throat into which the heel is fed. As the feeding of the heel 113 is continued, the breast 152 of said heel will engage the face of the plate 116. The heel carriage being fixed against rearward movement, continued feeding of the heel by the rollers 100 and 101 will effect a rotative action of the carriage on its pivot pins 121, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. As said carriage is rotated about its pivot points, the channel members 133 will come into engagement with the cams 132, and riding on these cams will force said channel members 133 toward the arms 119. This cam action will force the plungers 134 inwardly, the relation between the plate 116 and plungers 134 being such that one of the plungers 134 will enter the nail hole 153, which is the lower nail hole at the heel curve portion, while the other plunger 134 will be forced into the heel on the concave side thereof, these two plungers 134 being, of course, in alinement.

The heel is thus now rigidly held in its carriage between the arcuate face of the plate 116 and the plungers 134. The heel is thus now rotating about a center, in order to trim the fins 114 from the heel curve portion. As these heel curve portions of the heels rarely represent the arc of a true circle, it becomes essential to compensate for unevennesses of contour in the heel being operated upon. This is accomplished by means of the spring-pressed bearing members 128, which permit a vertical movement of the pivot pins 121 in order that the edge of the heel may always be held on the upper edges of the cutters 6'7 and 70 under the same tension. As the rotative movement of the carriage is continued, the channel members 133 will ride beyond or off the cams 132, whereupon the springs 135 will release the plungers 134 from the heel, permitting the rollers 100 and 101 to again feed the heel toward the rear of the machine. As this rearward movement of the heel is continued, the heel will again come in contact with the rollers 112, and will be tilted as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 9, the rollers 112 forcing the rear end of the heel upwardly and the spring-pressed roller 139 forcing the front end of the heel downwardly, thus insuring proper presentation of the finned edges of the heel to the cooperating cutters.

When the heel has reached the position illustrated in Fig. 9, continued feeding thereof toward the rear of the machine by the rollers 100 and 101 will free the heel from its carriage, and when the heel has passed beyond the feeding action of the rollers 100 and 101, it will be in a tilted position, beyond the point of inclination illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 9, whereupon said heel will drop between and be engaged by the discharging rollers 154, which are rotated by the shafts 43 and 51, said shafts in turn being rotated by the gears 42 and 50.

The direction of rotation of these discharging rollers 154 is toward the rear of the machine, and as the rollers move the heel in this discharging direction, said heel will engage the lever 148, pivoting said lever on its pivot 149 and automatically returning the heel carriage to its normal position in readiness to receive a subsequent heel, whereupon the operation just described will be repeated. It will thus be seen that the heel itself is the means which actuates the heel carriage, as well as the means which returns said carriage to normal or initial position.

The rotation of the heel carriage toward the front of the machine is limited by engagement of the stop member 143 with the right-hand lip 151, viewed from the front of the machine. Thus the stop 143 serves as means to limit the rotative movement of the heel carriage both toward the back and toward the front of the machine.

As the heels fed through the machine frequent- 1y diifer in thickness, and also as an individual heel may have difierent points of thickness, it is desirable to provide means whereby the feeding rollers 100 and 101 may be laterally adjustable to compensate for such differences in thickness. I accomplish this desirable result by providing a flared opening 155 in the arm or shelf 46 through which the shaft 35 passes. Thus, should a point of greater thickness be encountered in a heel being fed through the machine, the shaft 35 and roller 101 will be permitted to rock in the flared aperture 155, this rocking action being against the tension of a spring 156 which normally forces a plunger 157 against theshaft 35, normally tending to keep the rollers and 101 at their point'of closest relation.

The spring 156 is'confined in its recess 158by a threaded plug 159, said recess being formed in the shelf 123, said shelf 123 beingprovided with an elongated aperture 160 through which the shaft 35 passes. It will be understood and appreciated that the same feature of adjustment may be applied to the shaft 32 if desired,'or that manual adjustments to vary the space between the rollers 100 and 101 may be provided if desired.

It will also be appreciated that as the heel 113 is being fed toward the cutting point, the top edges of the cutters 67 and 70 will deflect the fins outwardly from the edges of the heel, preparatory to their severance, the blower or other fin dividing or separating means being an additional assurance to properly position said fins for presentation to the cooperating cutters.

The feature of removability of the heel carriage also enables easy replacement of carriages for different sizes of heels, the pivotpoints of said carriage being always the same, although the location of the plungers 134 relative to said pivot points will vary in carriages for different sized heels. I

During the trimming operation, it is desirable to provide means to remove the severed fins from the cutters, in order that said cutters may not becomes cluttered or entangled with the severed fins. I accomplish this desirable result by providing, in each cup-shaped lower cutter, and at the bottom of each shaft 37 and 45, a gear 161 rotatable with said shafts. Since the construction of this feature in each lower cutter is the same, description of one will suflice for both. A link'l62 extends from the shaft 37 and carries on its outer end a pin 163, mounted on which pin is a gear 164 in mesh with the gear 161 and rotated thereby, and also carried by the pin 163 is a saw-toothed disc 165, the periphery of which'is located in close proximity to the inner periphery of the lower cutter, and closely adjacent to the cutting point. Thus as the fins 114- are severed from the heels {113, they will be grasped by the saws 165 and positively removed from the top cutters and the cutting point. The conical shape of the upper surface ofthe members 63 and 68 will insure that the severed fins will be fedto the outer edge of the lower cutters, whereupon any desirable means may be utilized to discharge the severed fins from the bottom cutters.

This last mentioned means may comprise a simple inclined chute 166, up which the severed fins will be forced by the rotative action of the cutters. However, in order to facilitate and insure the discharge of the severed fins, I provide a shaft 167 carying a plurality of vanes or paddles 168 alined with the chute 166. Theshaft 167 has bearings in a bracket 169 fixed to the standard 28 by screws 170, and in a bracket 171 mounted on the reduced end 172 of the shaft 55. The reduced end 1720f the shaft 55 carries a beveled gear 173 which meshes'with and rotates a beveled gear 174 fixed to the shaft 167. Thus, as the shaft 55 rotates the cutter 67, it will also rotate the gear 173, resulting in a rotation of the shaft 167. and operation of the paddles 168 to impel the severed fins up the chute 166 and out of the bottom cutters.

In Fig. 13 I have illustrated a modified type of means to discharge the severed fins from the bottom cutters, comprising a suction tube 1'75,

Operated from any suitable source of power to 5 create a suction to draw the severed fins through the tube 175and outwardly away from the bottom cutters and the machine.

. It will thus be appreciated by those skilled in this art that I have devised amachine capable of trimming the fins from both edges of a heel simultaneously, and which machine is'capable of operation upon heels in rapid'succession, trimchine in normalposition. This feature greatly facilitates repairs and replacements to the parts carried by the headof the machine. When such repairs or replacements have been made, the head is swung upwardly and the screws 75 again threaded into thestandards 28 and 76 and the machine is again ready for operation.

I believe that the machine illustrated and described in this'application is novel, and'have, therefore, claimed said machine broadly herein.

. While I.have necessarily described my present invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size,-shape, and arrangement of parts, within reasonably wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims as follows 1. In a machine of the kind described, flash trimming means, means to rotate a heel about apredetermined center withits edge in constant trimming relation with said trimming means during the entire trimming operation, means to feed said heel to saidrotating means, and means to feed said heel through said machine after said rotative movement.

2. In amachine of the kind described, heel trimming, means, means to feed av heel to said trimming means and to maintain said vheel against said trimming means, means to grip said heelforfa predeterminedinterval, and means to rotate said heel about a center while so gripped with its edge in trimming relation with the trimmingmeans.

3. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, apivoted. carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to guide said heel about a center during trim! .ming thereof, and means on said, carriage adapted to, gripsaid. heelfor a predetermined interval during rotation of said carriage.

4. In a machine of the kinddescribed, heel actuated tojgrip,said heel for apredetermined interval during rotation of said carriage, and

resilient means to release said gripping means from said heel.

' 6. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivoted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during trimming thereof, cam actuated means on said carriage to grip said heel for a predetermined interval during rotation of said carriage, and means to automatically release said gripping means from said heel.

7. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivoted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during trimming thereof, means on said carriage adapted to grip said heel for a predetermined interval during rotation of said carriage, and means to discharge said heel from said machine.

8. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivoted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during a trimming thereof, means on said carriage adapted to grip said heel for a predetermined interval during rotation of said carriage, means to discharge said heel from said machine, and means operable by said heel to return said carriage to initial position.

9. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivoted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during trimming thereof, vmeans on said carriage automatically actuated to grip said-heel for a predetermined interval during rotation of said carriage, and resilient means to automatically release said gripping means from said heel.

10. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivotally mounted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during trimming thereof, and manually operable means to adjust said carriage to vary the normal minimum distance between said center and said trimming means.

11. In a machine of the .kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, and a pivotally mounted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during trimming thereof, said carriage being automatically adjustable relative to said trimming means to compensate for irregularities in heel curvature.

.12. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivotally mounted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel .about a center during trimming thereof, said carriage being automatically adjustable relative to said trimming means to compensate for irregularities in heel curvature, and manually operable means to adjust said carriage to vary the normal minimum distance between said center and said trimming means.

13. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivotally mounted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel abouta center during trimming thereof, said carriage being automatically adjustable relative to said trimming means to compensate for irregularities in heel curvature, and means onsaid carriage adapted to grip saidheel for a predetermined interval during rotation of said carriage.

14. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivotally mounted carriage in the path of feed of said .heel adapted [to lee-engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during trimming thereof, said carriage being automatically adjustable relative to said trimming means to compensate for irregularities in heel curvature, and cam actuated means on said carriage to grip saidheel for a predetermined interval during rotation of said carriage.

15. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivotally mounted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide saidheel about a center during trimming thereof, said carriage being automatically adjustable relative to said trimming means to compensate for irregularities in heel curvature, means on said carriage automatically actuated to grip said heel for a predetermined interval during rotation of said carriage, and resilient means to release said gripping means from said heel.

16. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivotally mounted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during trimming thereof, said carriage being automatically adjustable relative to said trimming means to compensate for irregularities in heel curvature, cam actuated means on said carriage to grip said heel for a predetermined interval during rotation of said carriage, and resilient means to automatically release said gripping means from said heel.

17. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivotally mounted carriage in the path of feed of said .heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during trimming thereof, said carriage being automatically adjustable relative to said trimming means to compensate for irregularities in heel curvature,

and cam operated means on said carriage adapted to grip said heel for a predetermined interval during rotation of said carriage.

18. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivotally mounted carriage in the path-of feed of saidheel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during trimming thereof, said carriage being automatically adjustable relative to said trimming means to compensate for irregularitiesin heel curvature, cam operated means on said carriage adapted to grip said heel for a predetermined'interval during rotation of said carriage, andcam controlled resilient means to automatically release said gripping means from said heel.

19. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, lieel'feeding means, a pivotally mounted carriage in the path of feed of said'heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during trimming thereof, and cooperating means on a fixed portion of said machine and on said carriage to present the untrimmed portion .of said heel to said trimming means during predetermined portions of thefeeding operation.

20. In a machine of the kind described, heel,

trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivotally '55 mounted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during.

trimming thereof, means on a fixed portionof said machine, and automatically adjustablev loi'means on said carriage cooperating with said last named means to present the untrimmed portion of said heel to said trimming means during on said carriage cooperating with said last namedmeansto present the untrimmed portion of said heel to said trimming means during the feeding operation, and means to adjustthe position, of 2553lthe means on the fixed portion of said machine relative to said trimming means.

22. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivotally mounted carriage ,in the path of feed of said 211681 adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during trimming thereof, cooperating means on a fixed portion of said machine and on said carriage to present the untrimmed portion of said heel to said 353:1;trimming means during predetermined portions 'of the feeding operation, and means to deflect the fins outwardly from said heel prior to presentation to the trimming means. 7

v23. In a machine of the kind described, heel 40 3,- trimming means, heel feeding means, a pivotally mounted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center; during trimming thereof, and means on said carriage to grip said heelfor a predetermined interval during rotation of said carriage, said carriage beingautomatically adjustable relative to said trimming means to compensate for irregularities in heel curvature, whereby the edge of the heel to ?:be trimmed will be positively. presented to the trimming means regardless of the contour of said heel.

24. In: a machine of the kind deseribedgheel trimming means, heel feeding means, a resili-- =zently mounted pivoted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center during trimming thereof, means on said carriage to grip said heel for a predetermined interval during rotation of said carriage, the resilient mounting of said carriage permitting automatic adjustment of said carriage relative to said trimming means to compensate for ir- 26. In a machine of the'kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding meansfincluding a rotatable carriage in which said heel is held and rotated for a predetermined interval, means to grasp a heel after the trimming operation and discharge said heel from said. machine, and means operable by said heel to return said carriage to normal position.

27. In a machineof the kind described, heel trimming means, heel feeding means including a rotatable carriage in which said heel is held and rotated for a predetermined interval, means: to grasp a heel after the trimming operation anddischarge said heel from said machine and means located in the path of said heel and engagedthereby during discharge thereof to auto-.

matically'return said carriage to normal position. i

' 28. In a machine of the kind described, heel feeding. means, .and cooperating heel trimming devices, a. rockable shaft driving one of said devices, and resilient means'tending to force said shaft and its trimming device toward the cooperating trimming device, whereby said trimming devices. are automatically adjustable to accommodate varying heel thicknesses.v 1

29. In a machine of the kind described, rotatable heel feeding means, and heel trimming, means fixed thereto and rotatable therewith, one.

of said feeding means and its attached'tr'imming means being resiliently mounted whereby said feeding means and said trimming means are automatically adjustableto accommodate vary,- ing heel thicknesses.

upper rotary cutter consisting of a disc with a shearing edge, and means to maintain said outters in engagement.

31. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means comprising a horizontally dis- 1 posed lower rotary cutter consisting of a ring with :a shearing edge, a horizontally disposed upper rotary cutter consisting of a disc 'with a shearing edge, and resilient means to maintain said cutters in engagement.

32. In a machine of the kind described, heel feeding means, heel trimming means, a pivotally mounted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center with its'edge in trimming relation with-said trimming means, resilient means bearing against said carriage whereby said carriage is automatically adjustable to vary the position of said center relative to said trimming means to compensate for irregularities in heel curvature, and manually operated means to disengage said resilient means from said carriage, whereby said carriage may be removed from said machine.

33. In a machine of the kind described, heel feeding means, heel trimming means, a pivotally mounted carriage in the path of feed of said heel adapted to be engaged and rotated by said heel and to guide said heel about a center with its edge in trimming relation with said trimming means, resilient means bearing against said carriage whereby said carriage is automatically adjustable to vary the position of said center relative to said trimming means to compensate for irregularities in heel curvature, manually operated means to disengage said resilient means from said carriage, whereby said carriage may be removed from said machine, and means to maintain said resilient means in disengaged position.

34. In a machine of the kind described, a pair of annular horizontally disposed rotary cutters located in substantial engagement with each other, a horizontally disposed rotary cutter located on top of each of said first cutters, means to maintain said upper cutters in engagement with said lower cutters, and means to adjust said lower cutters laterally with respect to said upper cutters.

35. In a machine of the kind described, a pair of annular horizontally disposed rotary cutters located in substantial engagement with each other, a horizontally disposed rotary cutter located on top of each of said first cutters, means to maintain said upper cutters in engagement with said lower cutters, the upper edges of said lower cutters constituting a support for a heel, and the inner edges of said lower cutters flaring the fins from said heel before presentation to the cutting points.

36. In a machine of the kind described, a pair of annular horizontally disposed rotary cutters located in substantial engagement with each other, a horizontally disposed rotary cutter located on topof each of said first cutters, means to maintain said upper cutters in engagement with said lower cutters, and means to adjust said lower cutters laterally with respect to said upper cutters, said upper cutters being automatically adjustable to accommodate varying heel thicknesses. I

37. In a machine of the kind described, a pair of annular horizontally disposed rotary cutters located in substantial engagement with each other, a horizontally disposed rotary cutter located on top of each of said first cutters, means to maintain said upper cutters in engagement with said lower cutters, and means to adjust said lower cutters as a unit laterally with respect to said upper cutters.

38. In a machine of the kind described, a pair of annular horizontally disposed rotary cutters located in substantial engagement with each other, a horizontally disposed rotary cutter located on top of each of said first cutters, means to maintain said upper cutters in engagement with said lower cutters, means to adjust said lower cutters laterally with respect to said upper cutters, and a head on said machine constituting a support for said upper cutters, said head being tiltable relative to the lower cutters topermit access to said upper cutters.

39. In a machine of the kind described, a cylindrical member having an internal cutting edge, a cooperating shearing member, means to retain said shearing member in engagement with the end of said cylinder, whereby said internal cutting edge and said shearing member cooper-' ate to form a cutting station, means to feed a heel with the finned edge thereof presented to said cutting station, and means to maintain said heel against said station at a constant pressure during the cutting operation.

40. In a machine of the kind described, a cylindrical member having an internal cutting edge, a cooperating shearing member, means to retain said shearing member in engagement with the end of said cylinder, whereby said internal cutting edge and said shearing member cooperate to form a cutting station, means to feed a heel with the finned edge thereof presented to said cutting station, means to maintain said heel against said station at a constant pressure during the cutting operation, and means to" discharge the heel from the machine after completion of the cutting operation.

41. In a machine of the kind described, a plurality of independent heel trimming means adapted to simultaneously operate on opposite sides of a heel, each means comprising a pair of cooperating cutters, and means to adjust the cutters in each pair relative to and independently of each other. 7

42. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means comprising a horizontally disposed lower cylindrical member having an internal cutting edge, a horizontally disposed upper shearing member cooperating with said cutting edge, and means to maintain said shearing member in engagement with the end of said cylinder.

43. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means comprising a horizontally disposed lower cylindrical member having an internal cutting edge, a horizontally disposed upper shearing member cooperating with said cutting edge, means to maintain said shearing member in engagement with the end of said cylinder, and means to adjust said shearing member along said cutting edge.

44. In a machine of the kind described, heel trimming means, means to feed a heel to said trimming means, means tomaintain said heel against said trimming means, means to grip said heel for a predetermined interval, means to rotate said heel about a center with its edge in trimming relation with the trimming means, and means to maintain said heel against said trimming means at a constant pressure.

EDWARD B. CARTER. 

